TITLE: Kanaloa's Daughter

Submerged in the waters of Hawaii, there was something mystical about the environment and the way Lani would surface dispersing glimmering droplets while water rushed through her hair. The vast amount of water failed to dilute her as she disrupted the stillness of the ocean. Despite this she didn’t overpower it, she seemed to be apart of it. And then It reminded me of Kanaloa, the ancient Hawaiian god of the sea whose eyes displayed the ‘Aka Web’ showing how all things are interconnected.

AUTHOR: Natalie Arber (Australia)

Natalie Arber is a self-taught lifestyle and environmental portrait photographer based in Melbourne who practices mostly in black and white. She documents candid moments with an emphasis on emotions and human expression. In 2023 she was a finalist in the Head On Portrait awards where her self portrait, Scarred was on exhibit in Bondi as well as being exhibited by the Museum of Australian Photography as part of their 2023 LOOK! prize with her winning portrait Sleepy-Head. Natalie's image, Miss Apprehended was also exhibited in 2023 as a finalist for the Out From the Mist competition in Queensland. In 2024 Natalie has won the title of Portrait Photographer of the Year in the Australian Photographic Prize and won the Emotive Portrait category of the Better Photography Photographer of the Year. Natalie also is a semi-finalist in the Head On Portrait awards, was a finalist and exhibited in the Kingston Arts Optika awards, Australian Photography Awards and the Museum of Australian Photography LOOK! Prize. She recently placed 2nd in the Out From the Mist photography awards with her image Metamorphic.